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Cab driver robbed, beaten dies of injuries; Police identify two new suspects as two others sit in jail

Islamic Center of Pittsburgh releases statement

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Updated: 7:59 PM EST Feb 26, 2017

Cab driver robbed, beaten dies of injuries; Police identify two new suspects as two others sit in jail

Islamic Center of Pittsburgh releases statement

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Updated: 7:59 PM EST Feb 26, 2017

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WEBVTT >> ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TOCOME TO TERMS WITH IS HE WASKILLED IN SUCH A TERRIBLE WAY,BUT ALSO THE FACT HE HAS A WIFETHAT IS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANTAND IS IN KENYA, TRYING TO COMEHERE.JACKIE: A COMMUNITY HEARTBROKENTONIGHT.ONE OF THEIR OWN, BEATEN ANDKILLED.TONIGHT, TWO MEN SIT IN JAIL ASTWO OTHERS ARE WANTED.PITTSBURGH'S ACTION NEWS 4REPORTER ALYSSA RAYMOND JOINS USLIVE TONIGHT FROM PITTSBURGHPOLICE HEADQUARTERS.AND ALYSSA, THE DETAILS ON THISBRUTAL CRIME ARE DISTURBING. BUT DO INVESTIGATORS THINK THEVICTIM WAS TARGETED?ALYSSA: JACKIE, THE POLICE ARESTILL INVESTIGATING, BUT THEYSAY THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCELINKING THIS TO A HATE CRIME.THEY SAY THAT FOR MEN PLANNED --THAT 4 MEN PLANNED TO ROB A CABDRIVER AND AFTERWARDS BRAGGEDABOUT HOW BAD THEY BEAT HIM.>> IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR AROBBERY TO HAPPEN TO A CABDRIVER, BUT IT IS UNCOMMON FOR ACAB DRIVER TO BE BEATEN TODEATH.ALYSSA: WASI MOHAMED REFLECTS ONWHAT HAPPENED TO RAMADHANMOHAMED, A SOMALI BANTU CABDRIVER.>> FOR SOMEBODY TAKEN SO YOUNG,AT 31, FOR A STUPID CRIME.WHATEVER HAPPENED FOR WHATEVERREASON, HATE CRIME OR NOT, IT'SJUST TERRIBLE.ALYSSA: THIS ALL HAPPENED AROUND2:00 TUESDAY MORNING IN THE 400BLOCK OF CLIMAX STREET INBELTZHOOVER.ACCORDING TO A CRIMINALCOMPLAINT, FOUR MEN CALLED A CABWITH THE INTENT TO ROB THEDRIVER.PITTSBURGH POLICE SAY WHENRAMADHAN ARRIVED, THEY BEAT HIM,TOOK EVERYTHING AND LEFT HIMLYING IN A YARD.THEN WENT BACK FOR MORE.HOW COULD PEOPLE BE LIKE THIS --THAT'S JUST EVIL. ALYSSA: POLICE ARRESTED20-YEAR-OLDS KING EDWARDS ANDHOSEA MOORE.AND NOW WARRANTS ARE OUT FOR18-YEAR-OLD CHRISTEN GLENN AND19-YEAR-OLD DANIEL RUSSELL.A WITNESS REVEALED RUSSELL WASTELLING EVERYONE HOW HE BEAT THE-- OUT OF THE VICTIM ANDBRAGGING ABOUT HOW BAD HE BEATTHE VICTIM.AND THAT THE VICTIM WAS STILLALIVE, SO HE KICKED HIM IN THEFACE AND NECK IN AN ATTEMPT TOKILL HIM.>> THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ROBSOMEONE, THEY WANTED TO KILLSOMEONE.ALYSSA: THIS TRAGEDY IS A LOSSFOR PITTSBURGH AND BEYOND.RAMADHAN MENTORED MORE THAN 60KIDS IN NORTH VIEW HEIGHTS.>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAINTHAT TO A KID.I FEEL BAD FOR THE FAMILYMEMBERS WHO HAVE TO SAY WHYISN'T HE COMING BACK THIS SUNDAYOR ANY SUNDAY EVER AGAIN.IT'S HARD FOR KIDS TO COME TOTERMS WITH THAT AND THERE'S NOTENOUGH MENTORS IN THE WORLD TOLOSE ONE.SO IS REALLY HARD.ALYSSA: AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAINIT TO HIS 2-YEAR-OLD SON AND HISWIFE, WHO'S EXPECTING THEIRSECOND CHILD?>> IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT.THAT'S FOREVER IN THEIR LIVES.I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET OVERSOMETHING LIKE THIS.I DON'T THINK IT HAPPENS.ALYSSA: HE WAS TAKEN TO UPMCPRESBYTERIAN, WHERE HE DIEDYESTERDAY AFTERNOON.THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICERELEASED THE CAUSE OF DEATHTODAY, BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THEHEAD.REPORTING LIVE FROM POLICEHEADQUARTERS, ALYSSA RAYMOND,

Cab driver robbed, beaten dies of injuries; Police identify two new suspects as two others sit in jail

Islamic Center of Pittsburgh releases statement

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Updated: 7:59 PM EST Feb 26, 2017

PITTSBURGH —

The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh says a cab driver that was robbed and brutally beaten in Beltzhoover has died of his injuries.

The medical examiner identified him as 31-year-old Ramadhan Mohamed.

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"It is not uncommon for a robbery to happen to a cab driver, but it is uncommon for a cab driver to be beaten to death," said Islamic Center of Pittsburgh Executive DirectorWasi Mohamed.

Wasi Mohamed reflects on what happened to Ramadhan, a Somali Bantu cab driver.

"For somebody taken so young at 31 for a stupid crime," said Wasi. "Whatever happened, for whatever reason hate crime or not, it is just terrible."

This all happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 400 block of Climax Street in Beltzhoover. According to a criminal complaint, four men called a cab with the intent to rob the driver. Police say when Ramadhan arrived, they beat him, took everything and left him lying in a yard. Then went back for more.

Wasi added, "How could people be like this? That is just evil."

Two suspects, Hosea Moore and King Edwards, were taken into custody Friday afternoon, but court documents show that police are searching for two additional suspects that helped devise a plan to call up a cab and rob its driver .

Those suspects were identified as Daniel Russell and Christen Glenn.

In the criminal complaint, witness revealed "Russell was telling everyone how he beat the s*** out of the victim and bragging about how bad he beat the victim" and "that the victim was still alive so he kicked him in the face and neck in an attempt to kill him."

"They did not want to rob someone," said Wasi. "They wanted to kill someone."

This tragedy is a loss for Pittsburgh and beyond. Ramadhan mentored more than 60 kids in North View Heights.

"I do not know how to explain that to a kid," said Wasi. "I feel bad for the family members who have to say why he is not coming back this Sunday or any Sunday ever again. It is hard for kids to come to terms with that, and there are not enough mentors in the world to lose one. So is really hard."

And how do you explain it to his two-year-old son and his wife who is expecting their second child?

"It is really difficult," said Wasi. "That is forever in their lives. I do not know how you get over something like this. I do not think it happens."

As the search continues for those suspects, the Islamic Center released the following statement:

"Tonight we mourn the passing of our brother, Ramadhan Mohamed. He was killed after being violently beaten earlier this week in Beltzhoover. He was just 31 years old and leaves behind his wife, Khadija Mohamed, with a baby on the way, and a two year old son. Ramadhan was kind and easy going. Dedicated to his faith and to service, he volunteered every weekend teaching youth.

We urge the police to keep the pressure on until all of the facts are in. We need to know what really happened that night that left our brother beaten to death. We must not rule out the possibility of a hate crime until a full investigation is completed."

Wasi says the Islamic Center is taking care of all the funeral and burial costs. They also set up a Launch Good Campaign to raise money. Wasi says any extra money will go to Ramadhan's family.

This investigation is still ongoing, but police say there is no evidence that this crime was committed because of the driver's nationality.